A woman was knocked to the ground during a struggle with her former partner in Inverkeithing.

The assailant was 38-year-old Greg Reedy, whose record was described as “horrendous” by a sheriff.

Reedy, of Spittalfield Crescent, Inverkeithing, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He admitted that on November 9 at Spencerfield Road in Inverkeithing, he assaulted his former partner by seizing her on the body and pushing her to the ground.

He also breached bail conditions on December 23 in Rosyth, when he was in the company of the same woman.

Depute fiscal Charlotte Allan said the first incident involved an assault witnessed by a local resident who heard a disturbance and looked outside.

Reedy was trying to take hold of a woman’s handbag, pushed her and she fell to the ground. She “cried out in pain” and a passer-by went to her assistance, added the depute.

Police were called and found the woman in a “distressed” state.

Reedy told the police: “I was trying to get my keys. She hit me so I pushed her over. It may have been a bit heavy-handed but it wasn’t an assault.”

Defence solicitor Stephen Morrison conceded: “His record does him no favours. She was refusing to return the keys and there was a tussle over a bag.”

Sheriff John MacRitchie, looking through Reedy’s previous convictions, described the record as “simply horrific, horrendous”.

He imposed a restriction of liberty order for 81 days and a fine of £245.

The sheriff also imposed a two-year non-harassment order.